Electric lighting fixture hanger



Dec. 21, 1965 F. M. HENNE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTOR. FRED M. HENNE Dec. 21, 1965 HENNE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1962 FIG.

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INVENTOR. FRED M HEMVE J 1i ATTOiNEYs xiv Dec. 21, 1965 F. M. HENNE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTOR FREO N l/E/V/VE 7 5 H 2 0 o G o G h. o H H 6 6 f 5 Y B 5 2 M. 4 5

Dec. 21, 1965 F. M. HENNE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 e a l? M gm 6% giis? Filed pril 2, 1962 FIG. I?

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INVENTOR FRED M. Hf/V/Vf United States Patent Ofilice 3,225,154 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,225,154 ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER Fred M. Henne, 104 William Howard Taft Road, Cincinnati, Ghio Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,296 7 Claims. (Ci. 2011-51119) This invention relates to a combined support and switching means and, more particularly, to a support means for selectively supporting or disengaging an object and at the same time making or breaking an electrical circuit depending upon whether the object to be supported is engaged or disengaged.

In churches and in certain other structures having high ceilings, electrical lighting fixtures are often supported and located at a location which is a considerable distance above floor level. In such instances, repairs and general maintenance including cleaning of the fixture is rendered exceedingly ditficult and dangerous in instances where a workman must conduct all such operations from an exceedingly high ladder. Such problems are further complicated due to the fact that the fixture itself, which normally may require repair or maintenance, heretofore has been threadedly secured to a support member such as threaded conduit which also serves to carry and, at the same time, conceal the necessary electrical wire.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fixture support means for obviating the above mentioned difiiculties.

Another object is in the provision of an improved support means for readily detachably supporting an electrical fixture.

Another object is in the provision of an improved support for readily detachably engaging an object and simultaneously making or breaking an electrical circuit depending upon whether said object is engaged or disengaged, which is easily engaged or disengaged, reliable in operation, mechanically simple and economic to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of an improved switching means for making or breaking an electrical circuit which is operable in response to the influence of a gravity force, is protected against accidental grounding, and which is operable to make an electrical circuit even though some degree of misalignment may exist between cooperating members.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing an electrical fixture supported by means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the yoke portion of the support means in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the hook portion;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, plan, side elevation, and end elevations of that portion of the switching means that is connected to the hook portion;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are, respectively, plan, side elevation, and endelevations of that portion of the switching means that is connected to the yoke portion;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing the various elements which comprise the switching means of FIGS. 4-6 inclusive, and illustrating the manner in which such elements are assembled;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the upper body portion of the switching means of FIG. 10 with the contacts installed in place;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the lower body portion of the switching means of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of a contact employed in the switching means of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view illustrating the manner of assembly of elements comprising the switch portion of FIGS. 7-9 inclusive;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view in perspective of the upper body portion of the switching means of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a bottom view in perspective of one of the lower set of contacts of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the upper body portion of the switching means of FIG. 14 and showing the upper contacts installed; and

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the lower body portion of the switching means of FIG. 14 showing the'lower set of contacts in place.

In the various views of the drawings, like numerals designate like parts; and it is to be understood that the drawings as well as the description which follows is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting as various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention.

In FIG. 1, there is illustrated an electrical fixture which is suspended from a conduit 2 by my improved support means which is designated generally at 3. The support means comprises a yoke portion 4 and a hook portion 5.

A switching means, designated generally at 6 is carried in the lower portion of yoke 4 as is best illustrated in FIG. 2. An internal passageway 'i is provided in at least a portion of yoke 4 to accommodate wiring (not shown) which is connected to switching means 6 and is concealed from view by means of passageway 7 and conduit 2. At the upper end of passageway 7 terminates in a threaded portion 8 in boss 9 which projects upwardly from yoke portion 4, the threaded portion serving as a convenient means for securing the yoke portionto conduit 2.

While switching means 6 is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 9, its structural features as well as its operation will be best understood by reference to FIGS. 14-18 inclusive. Switching means 6 comprises an upper body portion 11] and a lower body portion 11. The upper side portions of body portion 10 are sloped so as to generally conform to the shape of the opening of hook portion 5, and a shallow rounded slot 12 is provided in said opposed sloping upper portions thereof to receive and guide a tongue 13 carried by and on the inside of the point of hook 5.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided a pair of yieldable contact members 1 lwhich project upwardly above the upper surface of upper body portion 111 as is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9. This is accomplished by means of a securing member 15 having an elongate head portion 16 and a threaded end portion 17. Securing member 15 is received by a clearance hole 18 and is restrained against rotation by a slot 19 provided in the underside of body portion 10. (Io-axially aligned with clearance hole 18 is an enlarged bore 20 for receiving a compression spring 21. Each contact member 14 is provided with an internally threaded portion which is not shown in the interest of clarity and which is adapted to receive threaded portion 17. The lower terminal end portion of enlarged bore 20 forms a seat for the lower end of spring 21 and the underside of contact member 14 forms the upper seat for the upper end of spring 21.

Each contact member is assembled in the upper body portion 10 by inserting securing member 15 into clearance hole 18 until the elongate head portion 16 of the member 15 rests against body portion 11) and within its slot 19 so that rotation of the securing member is prevented. When so inserted, the upper end, particularly the threaded portion 17, of securing member 15 extends upwardly through the enlarged bore portion 24 Spring 21 is then inserted into the enlarged bore portion over the threaded end portion 17 following which the contact member 14 is screwed onto the threaded end portion 17. When so installed, spring 21 is compressed so that it, at all times, urges the contact member 14 in an upward direction. Thus, contact members 14 are always urged in an upward direction by the springs 21 but can be yieldably depressed when acted upon by a force sufiicient to overcome the biasing action of the spring.

Another pair of contacts 22 are carried by the lower body portion 11. For reasons which will appear presently, contacts 22 are also constantly urged in an upward direction and yet are capable of being depressed downwardly when acted upon by a force of sufficient magnitude to overcome the upward force exerted by the biasing means. As is best illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 16, each contact 22 is an elongate member having an internal threaded opening 23 in the underside thereof. Each of the contacts 22 is secured to the lower body portion 11 by a screw 24 which extends upwardly through a clearance hole 25 into threaded engagement with opening 23. Disposed on opposite sides of clearance opening 2 are counter bores 26, 27 which extend partially into lower body portion 11 in order to provide a lower seat and to retain biasing springs 28, 29. Each of contacts 22 is installed by first inserting springs 28, 29 into their corresponding counter bores 26, 27. Screw 24 is then placed in opening 25 and screwed into threaded engagement with threaded opening 23 in the underside of contact 22. When so installed, springs 28, 29 are compressed so that they at all times exert an upward biasing force against the contacts 22. Also, when so installed, each contact 22 is partially received into a slot 36 which serves as a guide when the contacts 22 are depressed and are thereafter urged upwardly under the influence of biasing springs 28, 29 and also serves to prevent rotation of the contact 22 relative to the lower body portion 11. Communicating with each slot 30 at right angles thereto is another slot 31 which terminates at one of the end portions of lower body portion 11 to receive an electric lead or wire.

An opening 32 is provided at the end of each contact 22 which is adjacent slot portion 31 to receive the exposed end of said electric wire which is secured to contact 22 by means of a screw 33 threadedly engaged in a threaded opening 34 in contact 22. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the skinned end of the wire is inserted into opening 32 and secured in place by screw 33 and that the insulated portion of the wire rests in slot portion 31; and, since the connection of the electrical wire to contact 22 is not necessary to an understanding of the present invention, it has not been shown in the interest of clarity.

The lower portion of switching means 6 is assembled by first placing compression springs 28, 29 in their respective bores 26, 27. Contacts 22 are then placed upon the top exposed end portions of springs 28, 29 and they are depressed so that each screw 24 can be inserted through an opening 25 in lower body portion 11 and threadedly engage the threaded opening 23 provided in the underside of the contact 22. When so installed, the biasing action of springs 28, 22 constantly urges contacts 22 in an upward direction and away from the upper face 35 of lower body portion 11. However when contacts 22 are subjected to any force sufiicient to overcome the action of springs 28, 29, each of the contacts 22 will move downwardly at least until it engages the upper face 35 of lower body portion 111.

A clearance opening 36 is provided in upper body portion 10, and a threaded opening 37 is provided in lower body portion 11 so that the upper and lower portions of switching means 6 can be secured together by means of a screw 38. Switching means 6 is secured to the lower portion of yoke 4 with a layer 39 of suitable insulating material such as a fiber strip interposed between the lower body portion 11 and the lower supporting portion of yoke 4-. The switching means may be secured to the yoke by any suitable means, for example, a threaded fastening which forms no part of the present invention and hence, is not shown.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 3, hook 5 carries in the bight thereof a terminal block, indicated generally at 40, having a pair of exposed contacts 41 which in the assembled connector are directed downwardly and are adapted to register with and engage the top ends of the upwardly directed contacts 14. An internal passageway 42 is provided in at least a portion of hook 5 to accommodate wiring (not shown) which is connected to terminal block 40 and is concealed from view by means of the internal passageway 42. The lower end of passageway 42 terminates in a threaded portion 43 in a boss 44 which projects downwardly from the hook to provide a convenient means for securing fixture 1 to the hook. Terminal block 40 comprises upper and lower body portions 45, 46 respectively. interposed between upper portion 45 and the bight portion of hook 5 is a layer of suitable insulating material 47 which conveniently may be a fiber strip. Terminal block 41) is secured in place by any convenient means such as threaded fasteners which form no part of the present invention and hence, are not shown in the interest of clarity.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 13, contacts 41 have a concave lower end portion 48 to confrom with the upper end surface of contacts 14. At their opposite ends, contacts 41 are each provided with a longitudinally extending threaded opening 49 adapted to be threadedly engaged by a screw 50 extending through the upper body portion 45 and thus secure contacts 41 thereto.

Approximately midway between the respective end portions of contacts 41 is an opening 51 for receiving the end of a wire which is disposed within passageway 42 and has its other end connected to fixture 1. The wire is secured to contact 41 and within opening 51 by means of a screw 52 and a threaded opening 53, the latter opening being provided in contact 41 and disposed at an angle relative to opening 51.

Lower body portion 46 is provided with spaced openings 54 to permit contacts 41 to extend through bottom portion 46 and somewhat beyond the lower face 55 thereof. Communicating with openings 54 are slots 56, 57 in the lower body portion 46. Slots 56, 57 in cooperation with the upper body portion 45 form individual passageways for carrying an electric wire to each of contacts 41 through the body portion of the terminal block and into communication with passageway 42.

With contacts 41 secured to upper body portion 45 in the manner noted above, body portions 45, 46 are secured together to form a completed terminal block by means of a screw or screws 58 extending upwardly through a clearance opening 59 in lower body portion 46 and threadedly engaged in a correspondingly disposed threaded opening 6b in upper body portion 45.

Installation, operation and manner of use is as follows:

The building or church wiring is installed in a well known and conventional manner, and conduit 2 and its associated wiring are located at a desired point. Yoke 4 is screwed onto the end of conduit 2, and the wiring (not shown) carried thereby is threaded through passageway 7 and connected to the respective contacts 14 in the manner already noted. Switching means 6 is then secured in place in the lower portion of yoke 4 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In a similar manner, the hook portion is screwed onto fixture l; and the electrical leads associated with said fixture (not shown) are threaded upwardly through threaded opening 43 and internal passageway 42. Each of these electrical leads or wires is then connected to and secured to contacts 41 in the manner already noted above. Terminal block 40 is then secured to hook 5 in the manner heretofore noted and as best illustrated in FIG. 3.

Fixture 1 may then be installed in place by merely lifting it and placing the hook through the yoke which then supports the hook and the fixture connected thereto. As noted previously, the shape of hook portion 5 conforms generally to the yoke and particularly with the shape of upper body portion of switching means 6. Therefore, when the hook is placed into the yoke, it tends to properly align itself with the yoke and with the concave portions 48 aligned with the exposed ends of contacts 14. Proper alignment is further facilitated by means of the shallow slot 12 in the upper body portion 10 which is first engaged by tongue 13 so that hook 5 will be properly oriented relative to yoke 4 thus avoiding accidental grounding if assembly or disassembly is attempted while contacts 14 are connected to a source of electrical energy.

Proper alignment between contacts 14 and 41 is further facilitated by the fact that each contact 41 is provided with concave end portion 48 thus helping to insure proper seating and contact with the rounded upper por tion of a contact 14.

When fixture 1 has been suspended by placing the hook 5 through yoke 4, the weight of the fixture overcomes the force of biasing springs 21 and thus depresses contacts 14 so that the elongate portions 16 engage and make electrical contact with contact 22 which continues to be urged in an upward direction under the influence of its biasing springs 28, 29. Thus it will be seen that when contacts 14 are acted upon by downward force sufficient to overcome the force of biasing springs 21, electrical contact is at all times insured between contacts 14 and 41 to complete an electrical circuit between fixture 1 and its associated wiring and a source of electrical energy furnished through the wiring contained in conduit 2.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. An electrical connector comprising a first unit having an upper portion and a lower portion, means forming a part of said upper portion for attaching the unit to a support, a switch means carried by said lower portion and including upwardly facing contact members, an electric terminal for each of said contact members, a second unit having an upper portion and a lower portion and having means to support an electric fixture from the lower portion thereof, said upper portion of said second unit having the form of a hook for engagement over said switch means whereby to suspend the second unit from the first unit, an electrical terminal block carried by and in the book of the second unit in a position to rest upon said switch means and in engagement with the said contact members when the hook is in said suspending engagement over the switch means, downwardly directed electric contact elements carried by said terminal block for electrical engagement with said contact members, and electric current conductors connected to said contact members and to said contact elements.

2. An electrical lighting fixture hanger, comprising a first unit and a second unit, said first unit having a portion adapted for attachment to a support means and having guiding and bearing surfaces for the reception and support of the second unit, said second unit having guiding and bearing surfaces complementary with said surfaces of said first unit for interconnection with and disconnection from said surfaces of said first unit so that the second unit may be separably and suspendingly coupled with the first unit, said guiding surfaces of said units functioning when said units are coupled to maintain said bearing surfaces in contact, said unit having means for connection to a lighting fixture, electric contact means carried on said surfaces of said first unit and having current conductors connected therewith, electric contact means carried on said surfaces of the second unit and having current conductors connected therewith, an electric switch electrically connected to the current conductors of said first unit, means connected to said switch for closing the same in response to the weight of said second unit when the same is suspended from said first unit.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said units is in the form of a hook with said bearing surfaces located at the bight of said hook.

4. An electric lighting fixture hanger, comprising a first unit having an upper portion and a lower portion, means forming a part of said upper portion for attaching the unit to a support, a switch means carried by said lower portion and including upwardly facing vertically movable contact members each having a headed lower end terminal portion, yieldable means urging upward movement of said contact members and the terminal portions thereof, said switch means also including a contact positioned beneath and normally spaced from each lower end terminal portion and having means for the attachment of an electric current conductor thereto, a second unit having an upper portion and a lower portion and having means to support an electric fixture from the lower portion thereof, said upper portion of said second unit having the form of a hook for engagement over said switch means whereby to suspend the second unit from the first unit, an electrical terminal block carried by and in the bight of the hook of the second unit in a position to rest upon said switch means and in engagement with and upon the said contact members when the hook is in said suspending engagement over said switch means, downwardly directed electric contact elements carried by said terminal block for electrical engagement with said contact members, means for connecting electric current conductors to the said contact elements carried by the terminal block, and said yieldable means being designed to yield under the weight of the second unit and the fixture supported thereby, to effect downward movement of said contact members to electrically engage the terminal portions thereof with the said contacts therebeneath.

5. The invention according to claim 4, with spring means connected to each of the said contacts positioned beneath the said terminal portions and yieldingly supporting such contacts in opposed relationship to the lower end terminal portions of said contact members.

6. An electrical lighting fixture hanger, comprising an elongate closed yoke unit having a top end portion and a lower end portion, means for attaching the top end portion to an overhead support means, said yoke unit having downwardly converging sides, a switch means mounted in the lower end portion of the yoke unit between the said converging sides thereof, said switch means including a body part carrying upwardly facing contact members, means yieldingly supporting the contact members for up and down movement relative to adjacent contact elements within the body part, means for connecting electrical conductors to said contact elements, said contact members being movable downwardly against said yielding means into electrical connection with said contact elements, a hook unit formed for engagement through said yoke unit to be supported by said yoke unit between the said converging sides thereof and upon said contact members, said hook unit having a lower end part having means for connection with an electrical fixture to suspend the latter therefrom, an electrical terminal block carried in the bight of said hook unit and having downwardly directed electrical contact elements for engagement with and to bear upon said contact members, and means for connecting electrical current conductors to the last said contact elements.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the said body part of said switch means has downwardly diverging slots in opposite sides thereof into which portions of the said bight of said hook unit engage upan the placement of the hook through said yoke unit, the said hook unit having a point upon the inner side of which there is a tongue for engagement in a slot to facilitate positioning of the said contact elements carried by the hook unit upon the said upwardly facing contact members carried by the body part of said switch means.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 1,686,734 10/1928 Cox 339109 5 2,299,607 10/ 1942 Averbach 248-342 X 2,677,117 4/1954 Swain 339-110 2,792,557 5/1957 Dowick 339119 X KATHLEEN H, CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

10 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiner. 

2. AN ELECTRICAL LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER, COMPRISING A FIRST UNIT AND A SECOND UNIT, SAID FIRST UNIT HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING GUIDING AND BEARING SURFACES FOR THE RECEPTION AND SUPPORT OF THE SECOND UNIT, SAID SECOND UNIT HAVING GUIDING AND BEARING SURFACES COMPLEMENTARY WITH SAID SURFACE OF SAID FIRST UNIT FOR INTERCONNECTION WITH AND DISCONNECTION FROM SAID SURFACES OF SAID FIRST UNIT SO THAT THE SECOND UNIT MAY BE SEPARABLY AND SUSPENDINGLY COUPLED WITH THE FIRST UNIT, SAID GUIDING SURFACES OF SAID UNITS FUNCTIONING WHEN SAID UNITS ARE COUPLED TO MAINTAIN SAID BEARING SURFACES IN CONTACT, SAID UNIT HAVING MEANS FOR CONNECTION TO A LIGHTING FIXTURE, ELECTRIC CONTACT MEANS CARRIED ON SAID SURFACES OF SAID FIRST UNIT AND HAVING CURRENT CONDUCTORS CONNECTED THEREWITH, ELECTRIC CONTACT MEANS CARRIED ON SAID SURFACES OF THE SECOND UNIT AND HAVING CURRENT CONDUCTORS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AN ELECTRIC SWITCH ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE CURRENT CONDUCTORS OF SAID FIRST UNIT, 